Billy Dee Williams

Billy Dee Williams has been a romantic leading man, an action super-hero, a cowboy, a policeman, federal agent, heroic friend and much more in his outstanding career.

At the age of seven, Billy Dee Williams made his debut on Broadway in The Firebrand of Florence, a production whose title may have been prophetic for Williams, who went on to make a name for himself in theatre, television and feature films.

After studying with Paul Mann and Sidney Poitier at the fabled Actor's Workshop, he soon created a buzz in productions of The Cool World, Blue Boy in Black, A Taste of Honey with Angela Lansbury and Hallelujah Baby with Leslie Uggams.

It was in ABC-TV's award-winning telefilm Brian's Song that established Williams as an important television actor, earning him an Emmy nomination. In 1970, he appeared with Diana Ross in The Lady Sings the Blues, and three years later was teamed up with Miss Ross in Mahogany.

In 1980, he was cast as the gambler and scoundrel Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back. Since that extraordinary success, he has appeared in many feature film and television productions, including Batman, The Jacksons: An American Dream, Dynasty, Chiefs, Courage, and Lonesome Dove: The Series.

Note: This profile was written in or before 2002.

Billy Dee Williams Facts

Birth Name	William December Williams
Occupation	Actor
Birthday	April 6, 1937 (86)
Sign	Aries
Birthplace	New York, New York, USA
Height	6' (1m83) How tall is Billy Dee Williams compared to you?

Selected Filmography

Not available.